APOLOGIES to the store detectives at a famous chain of high street chemists for my behaviour recently.

They probably thought they had a live one on their hands (or whatever their term is for people who they suspect are about to go on the rob) as I must have really had them in a spin.

I am in no way trivialising the serious crime of shop-lifting and this time of year, with the shops so packed, must be particularly problematic for those trying to protect us from a crime which affects us all by pushing up prices.

It was the time of year that resulted in me flying backwards and forwards through the store in question like a whirling dervish as I kept remembering all the things I had gone in to have a look at.

Regular readers may recall that I started my Christmas shopping ridiculously early back in September. Partly it's because the novelty of buying stuff for my younger relatives (four, 18 months and 11 months) has yet to wear off. I'm not ashamed to say I still get over-excited at being able to buy cute little denim shorts and T-shirts that say "I love milk". The other reason is with two of them living on the other side of the world, where it is now summer, you have to do a little bit of planning ahead.

Anyway, with the little Antipodeans sorted, I thought I'd better start thinking about present-buying for my UK-resident family and friends.

I've been making mental notes of what to buy for whom and have been using lunchtimes to make forays out to the shops.

So there I was in this particular store heading for one of the make-up counters. They didn't have what I wanted. Right, I'll try the shop up the road, I thought. Heading for the exit and I'm almost there when the shopping list in my brain stopped me in my tracks. Around I whirled, remembering I was also supposed to be looking at men's aftershave. I decide just to check the price, oh, and I need a bottle of water, too, because I'm going to keep fit tonight, so I hare off up another aisle, stopping off to check out a lovely little set of make-up brushes on the way. Shall I get those or not? I pick them up, put them down, pick them up again. I head for the check-out, change my mind because I might find a better make somewhere else and put them back. Decide to forget the water even though I am halfway to the chiller cabinets and make for the exit again.

This time I actually get to the doors and hold one open for someone who is coming in. In that short moment of repose I think of Yves Saint Laurent. So it's back to the perfume counter to see if they do those miniature bottle gift sets. They don't. I race off to the exit for a third time, deciding to give up on gift-buying for the day. Walking by the beach is much more enjoyable Did I have a store detective in my wake? I don't know. But if I did, I apologise, and rest assured I have now made a list and will do my best to make sure I do the rest of my Christmas shopping in a calm and orderly fashion.